The Guns of August (Modern Library 100 Best Nonfiction Books)

Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time

The Proud Tower, the Pulitzer Prize–winning The Guns of August, and The Zimmerman Telegram comprise Barbara W. Tuchman’s classic histories of the First World War era

In this landmark, Pulitzer Prize–winning account, renowned historian Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I: thirty days in the summer of 1914 that determined the course of the conflict, the century, and ultimately our present world. Beginning with the funeral of Edward VII, Tuchman traces each step that led to the inevitable clash. And inevitable it was, with all sides plotting their war for a generation. Dizzyingly comprehensive and spectacularly portrayed with her famous talent for evoking the characters of the war’s key players, Tuchman’s magnum opus is a classic for the ages.

Praise for The Guns of August

“A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill’s statement that the first month of World War I was ‘a drama never surpassed.’” —Newsweek

“More dramatic than fiction . . . a magnificent narrative—beautifully organized, elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained.” —Chicago Tribune “A fine demonstration that with sufficient art rather specialized history can be raised to the level of literature.” —The New York Times “[ The Guns of August] has a vitality that transcends its narrative virtues, which are considerable, and its feel for characterizations, which is excellent.” —The Wall Street Journal

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Product Description:

Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time

In this landmark, Pulitzer Prize–winning account, renowned historian Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I: thirty days in the summer of 1914 that determined the course of the conflict, the century, and ultimately our present world. Beginning with the funeral of Edward VII, Tuchman traces each step that led to the inevitable clash. And inevitable it was, with all sides plotting their war for a generation. Dizzyingly comprehensive and spectacularly portrayed with her famous talent for evoking the characters of the war’s key players, Tuchman’s magnum opus is a classic for the ages.

Praise for The Guns of August

“A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill’s statement that the first month of World War I was ‘a drama never surpassed.’” —Newsweek

“More dramatic than fiction . . . a magnificent narrative—beautifully organized, elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained.” —Chicago Tribune “A fine demonstration that with sufficient art rather specialized history can be raised to the level of literature.” —The New York Times “[ The Guns of August] has a vitality that transcends its narrative virtues, which are considerable, and its feel for characterizations, which is excellent.” —The Wall Street Journal

From the Publisher:

To many people, W.W.I seems like ancient history. To me, it is the most fascinating of wars. It is when the modern world began, or, in Barbara Tuchman's opinion, when the 19th Century ended. My late Great Uncle Jimmy, a Brit, joined the Army at the age of 16 by lying that he was 18 after being encouraged to do so by a recruiter. Where did they send him? To Ireland, to train horses for the cavalry! This was the same war that saw the debut of the airplane, submarine, tank, poison gas, machine gun, flamethrower, and hand grenade!

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning history, Tuchman writes about the turning point of the year 1914--the month leading up to the war and the first month of the war. This was the last gasp of the Gilded Age, of Kings and Kaisers and Czars, of pointed or plumed hats, colored uniforms, and all the pomp and romance that went along with war. How quickly it all changed, and how horrible it became. Tuchman is masterful at portraying this abrupt change from 19th to 20th Century. And how she manages to make the story utterly suspenseful, when we already know the outcome, is the mark of a great writer, and a classic volume of history.

Book Description Random House Trade Paperbacks, 1994. Book Condition: New. Brand New, Unread Copy in Perfect Condition. A+ Customer Service! Summary: "Fascinating . . . One of the finest works of history written . . . A splendid and glittering performance." The New York Times "MORE DRAMATIC THAN FICTION . . . A MAGNIFICENT NARRATIVE . . . elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained . . . The product of painstaking and sophisticated research." Chicago Tribune "A BRILLIANT PIECE OF MILITARY HISTORY which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill's statement that the first month of World War I was 'a drama never surpassed.' A writer with an impeccable sense of telling detail, Mrs. Tuchman is able to evoke both the enormous pattern of the tragedy and the minutiae which make it human." Newsweek "[A] BEAUTIFULLY ORGANIZED, COMPELLING NARRATIVE." San Francisco Chronicle "AN EPIC NEVER FLAGGING IN SUSPENSE . . . It seemed hardly possible that anything new of significance could be said about the prelude to and the first month of World War I. But this is exactly what Mrs. Tuchman has succeeded in doing . . . by transforming the drama's protagonists as well as its immense supporting cast, from half-legendary and half shadowy figures into full-dimensional, believable persons." The Christian Science Monitor "EXCELLENT . . . [ The Guns of August ] has a vitality that transcends its narrative virtues." The Wall Street Journal. Bookseller Inventory # ABE_book_new_034538623X

Book Description Random House USA Inc, United States, 1994. Paperback. Book Condition: New. Ballantine Books ed. 178 x 107 mm. Language: English . Brand New Book. Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time The Proud Tower, the Pulitzer Prize winning The Guns of August, and The Zimmerman Telegram comprise Barbara W. Tuchman s classic histories of the First World War era In this landmark, Pulitzer Prize winning account, renowned historian Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I: thirty days in the summer of 1914 that determined the course of the conflict, the century, and ultimately our present world. Beginning with the funeral of Edward VII, Tuchman traces each step that led to the inevitable clash. And inevitable it was, with all sides plotting their war for a generation. Dizzyingly comprehensive and spectacularly portrayed with her famous talent for evoking the characters of the war s key players, Tuchman s magnum opus is a classic for the ages. Praise for The Guns of August A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill s statement that the first month of World War I was a drama never surpassed. Newsweek More dramatic than fiction . . . a magnificent narrative beautifully organized, elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained. Chicago Tribune A fine demonstration that with sufficient art rather specialized history can be raised to the level of literature. The New York Times [ The Guns of August ] has a vitality that transcends its narrative virtues, which are considerable, and its feel for characterizations, which is excellent. The Wall Street Journal. Bookseller Inventory # ABZ9780345386236

Book Description Random House USA Inc, United States, 1994. Paperback. Book Condition: New. Ballantine Books ed. 178 x 107 mm. Language: English . Brand New Book. Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time The Proud Tower, the Pulitzer Prize winning The Guns of August, and The Zimmerman Telegram comprise Barbara W. Tuchman s classic histories of the First World War era In this landmark, Pulitzer Prize winning account, renowned historian Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I: thirty days in the summer of 1914 that determined the course of the conflict, the century, and ultimately our present world. Beginning with the funeral of Edward VII, Tuchman traces each step that led to the inevitable clash. And inevitable it was, with all sides plotting their war for a generation. Dizzyingly comprehensive and spectacularly portrayed with her famous talent for evoking the characters of the war s key players, Tuchman s magnum opus is a classic for the ages. Praise for The Guns of August A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill s statement that the first month of World War I was a drama never surpassed. Newsweek More dramatic than fiction . . . a magnificent narrative beautifully organized, elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained. Chicago Tribune A fine demonstration that with sufficient art rather specialized history can be raised to the level of literature. The New York Times [ The Guns of August ] has a vitality that transcends its narrative virtues, which are considerable, and its feel for characterizations, which is excellent. The Wall Street Journal. Bookseller Inventory # ABZ9780345386236

Book Description Ballantine Books. Paperback. Book Condition: New. Paperback. 608 pages. Dimensions: 8.1in. x 5.5in. x 1.1in.Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all timeThe Proud Tower, the Pulitzer Prizewinning The Guns of August, and The Zimmerman Telegram comprise Barbara W. Tuchmans classic histories of the First World War eraIn this landmark, Pulitzer Prizewinning account, renowned historian Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I: thirty days in the summer of 1914 that determined the course of the conflict, the century, and ultimately our present world. Beginning with the funeral of Edward VII, Tuchman traces each step that led to the inevitable clash. And inevitable it was, with all sides plotting their war for a generation. Dizzyingly comprehensive and spectacularly portrayed with her famous talent for evoking the characters of the wars key players, Tuchmans magnum opus is a classic for the ages. Praise for The Guns of August A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchills statement that the first month of World War I was a drama never surpassed. Newsweek More dramatic than fiction . . . a magnificent narrativebeautifully organized, elegantly phrased, skillfully paced and sustained. Chicago Tribune A fine demonstration that with sufficient art rather specialized history can be raised to the level of literature. The New York Times The Guns of August has a vitality that transcends its narrative virtues, which are considerable, and its feel for characterizations, which is excellent. The Wall Street Journal This item ships from multiple locations. Your book may arrive from Roseburg,OR, La Vergne,TN. Paperback. Bookseller Inventory # 9780345386236